A working group has been established comprising representatives of the Premier's Office, the Energy Minister's Office, Office of Energy, Western Power, Alinta, Synergy, Verve Energy, the Dampier to Bunbury Gas Pipeline, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is chaired by the Coordinator of Energy.

Guiding Principles for the Allocation of Available Energy

The State Government will take a leadership and coordination role aimed at:

- accessing gas from the North-West Shelf and other smaller gas suppliers;
- accessing energy from other sources to free-up gas;
- encouraging gas and electricity customers not to waste energy;
- working with industry to shift demand to low peak times; and
- ensuring diesel is available to replace natural gas where possible.

• There is a current gas supply shortage. In an integrated energy market, this has flow-on impacts on electricity, energy supplies and feedstock for industries. The following principles are for the priority allocation of limited energy resources.

1. protect the health, safety and property of the community;
2. minimise broad community disruption; and
3. minimise economic impact.

• The priority schedule will not override contractual arrangements. Also, in assessing allocation to industries, consideration will be given as to whether they have alternative supplies. This schedule may not apply where these customers have viable alternatives.

• It is acknowledged that there are physical limitations to the operations of the gas and electricity supply system which will impact on the application of the schedule.

• To ensure that the allocation of limited energy supply is in the public interest and consistent with all of the above principles, the following is the agreed priority schedule:

1. Energy infrastructure is to be given top priority to maintain the State’s capability to supply gas and electricity to users.

2. Essential Services are defined as those critical services that have the potential to seriously impact on the health and safety of the community and include essential public transport and communications.

3. Essential Supply to Residential Customers will minimise the potential for health impacts and disruption to the community. Consumers are encouraged to reduce energy consumption.

4. Industries providing essential goods and services to the WA community will have a higher priority in the allocation of energy than those that do not. This is to minimise disruption to the community and recognise the important services that these industries provide.

5. For all other industries, every effort will be made to maximise the availability of supply, recognising their importance to the State and National economy.